Are You Planning or Preparing?
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Categories:
Human Resources
I recently read an article in which the author Craig Jarrow stated that, "Planning is good... knowing what you need to do is a great first step. Preparation is even better... it readies you to actually do your work."
As I reflected on that statement, I realized how practical and beneficial that advice is whether it be inside or outside of your organization.
Being a building material supplier, our sales staff will occasionally assist the DIY customer who is searching aimlessly for products to complete a home renovation project, more often than they will have to assist an established contractor. This is because a professional contractor will usually have the experience to know what product or its equivalent will be needed before starting the project and is able to prepare for it in advance.
There are many situations in which you can help employees and your organization prepare for the uncertainties of life whether they are professional or personal. A few ideas include:
Crisis preparation – develop a crisis plan and practice response protocol should your organization be faced with a major crisis: active shooter, data breach, fire, chemical spills, vehicle accidents. Train employees who to contact, how to respond to the crisis, where to go at different times of crisis (before, during, after) and next steps to business continuity.
Financial preparation – many American don’t have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency or retirement savings. I recently shared some external resources with our employees as anticipated tax refunds/profit sharing payouts will soon be coming. Learning to budget expenses and build savings is something that can transform employees lives so that it’s no longer paycheck-to-paycheck.
Succession preparation – with 5 generations actively in the current workforce, start to look at who is near retirement and also begin to identify those in your organization who may need career development or training to meet future business needs. Talk with those employees early to learn if they have an interest in future opportunity within the organization. If so, with proper training and development you can avoid potential gaps in skills needed to fill essential positions. If not, you now have a profile to look externally as you build a candidate pipeline for when that time comes.
Life/Wellness preparation – many supplemental benefits can be offered to employees which are of no cost to the employer including life insurance, disability insurance, critical illness, and accident insurance. These benefits are usually portable so as long as the premiums are paid the coverage remains in effect which - in some instances - may be the only coverage your employees have. Encouraging employees to routinely participate in wellness activities is another option that can lead to early detection or prevention of chronic or life-threatening diseases.
Preparing in advance:
- Can reduce valuable time in completing a project/goal
- Save money or resources on having to formulate a quick fix action plan
- Offer peace of mind knowing a well-rehearsed strategy is in place
Tagged:personnel, employment, benefits, HR Building